Door frame support



June 27, 1967 R. J. SNAPP 3,327,983

noon FRAME SUPPORT Original Filed Feb. 19, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

June 27, 1967 R. J. SNAPP DOOR FRAME SUPPORT Original Filed Feb. 19, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W M J 1 h N Wk MN u Qmfi: W v I 8W WW 3 F Dwh v QM, WNW Quu mu QWN 0 8 Mm \H 6% lnlw ll lfl I l lu N I .ll h m NW mm s United States Patent 3,327,983 DOOR FRAME SUPPORT Rex J. Snapp, 1914 University Blvd., Lima, Ohio 45805 Original application Feb. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 259,692, now

Patent No. 3,199,206, dated Aug. 10, 1965. Divided and this application July 27, 1965, Ser. No. 475,122

Claims. (Cl. 248-229) The present application is a division of my application for Door Frame Profile Gauge, Ser. No. 259,692, filed Feb. 19, 1963, now US. Patent No. 3,199,206 of Aug. 10, 1965.

' This invention relates generally to spacer bar means operable in combination with profile gauge means to properly orient the jamb and header memberof a door frame, and more particularly to means for aligning a door frame and for supporting the same in an aligned, plumb condition during the construction of a wall about the frame.

In my prior US. Patent No. 2,973,584 of Mar. 7, 1961, I have disclosed profile gauge means for orienting a door frame jamb at a 90 angle'relative to a horizontal header member. While alignment of the door frame is readily achieved by the use of the profile gauge means, it has been found in actual practice that unless some means are provided for supporting the components in their properly oriented positions, the frame is often inadvertently knocked out 'of alignment during its installationin a building. Furthermore, when the jambs are slightly warped or distorted, it is difiicult to produce incremental changes in the spacing between the free ends of the jambs indicated as being necessary by the profile gauge'means. Moreover,

When a masonry wall or the like is to be constructed in situ about an aligned door frame, it is difficult to support the frame in a plumbed position without interfering with passage of personnel through the frame.

Accordingly an object of the present invention is to pro-Q vide spacer'bar means operable in combination with proheader members of a door frame. i

A more specific object of the invention is to provide first means for properly orienting the members of a door frame and for temporarily maintaining the same in their file gauge 'means for properlyorienting the jamb" and oriented positions, and second means for supporting the aligned frame in a vertical plumb condition during the construction of a wall in situ thereabout.

A further object of the invention is to provide spacer bar means affording coarse and fine adjustment of the spacing between the free ends of the jambs of a door frame. In accordance with an important feature of the invention, the spacer bars means cooperate with profile gauge means'to position at least one of the door jambs at an angle of 90 relative to a horizontalheader member and to maintain proper orientation of the door frame members duringinstallation of theframe in a building.

Still another object of the invention is to provide adjustable length bracing meansfor connecting the upper portion of a door frame to afixed support, said bracing means being adjustable to plumb the frame. According to an important feature of the invention, the bracing means include novel swivel bracket means which are adjustable to fixed angular positions permitting simple connection of the bracing means to a'stationary support A more specific object of the'invention isto provide swivel bracket means comprising a'U-shaped member connectable to a'fixed support, a first member rotatably con -v nected at one end to said fixed support, a second member pivotally connected at one end to the other end of said first member, at least one third member pivotally connected to the other end of said second member for pivotal movement'about an axis normal to the pivotal connection 'ice between said first and second members, and means for locking said first member against rotation relative to said U-shaped member. According to the invention, a pair of said third members is provided which are adjustable in length and which are hingedly connected to opposite ends of the header member of the frame.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the door frame positioning means of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are plan and side elevation views, respectively, of the swivel bracket means of FIG. 1.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, the wooden or metal door frame 2 includes a horizontal header 4 and a pair of vertical jambs 6 and 8. Arranged within the door frame is a profile gauge 10 similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned patent. Gauge 10 includes-vertical and horizontal arms 12 and 14, respectively, which are pivotally connected by hinge means 16. Each of the arms is of .I-beam cross sectional configuration and is provided with vertical and horizontal spirit level'means 18. Variable length brace member 20 is pivotally connected at each end to the respective arms and is provided with indicia for indicating when the angle between the pivotally connected arms exactly equals 90. Horizontal arm 14 is secured to header 4 by a pair of C-clamps 22. A thumb set screw 20a, threaded through a wall of arm 2015, has an end adapted to abut tightly against a portion of the arm 20 extending in arm 20b to lock the brace at a desired selected length by preventing relative movement between the arms.

Arranged horizontally between the lower ends of the door frame jambs is a generally H-shaped adjustablelength spacer bar 24.'At one end, the spacerbar is slide ably connected to vertical gauge arm 12 for vertical movement relative thereto. The other end of the spacer bar abuts the adjacent surface of jamb 8. The ends of the spacer barare secured to jambs 6 and 8 by L-shaped tie wires or rods 26 and 26 respectively, which extend behind the jambs and are secured at their free ends to horizontal transverse portions of the spacer bar.

The upper end of the door frame is connected to fixed support 28 (which is illustrated in FIG. 1 as being a ceiling beam) by swivel bracket 30 and a pair of variablelength brace legs 32. Each ofthese legs includes telescopic sections permitting coarse length adjustment, and a turnbuckle 34 aifording fine adjustment.v Atone end, each of the rods if pivotally connected to a C-clamp 36 which is secured to horizontal header extension 4a. The other ends of the rods are pivotally connected to swivel bracket i 30 by pivot shaft 38. After alignment and plumbing of the door frame, the masonry walls 40 are constructed about the frame as shown.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the spacer bar means- 24 includes three telescopically-arranged longitudinallyadjustable sections or elements 44, 46 and 48. Coarse and fine adjustment. means are provided for longitudinally adjusting tubular element 46 relative to tubular element 48 and threaded rod 44, respectively. Coarse adjustment is afforded by a locking pin 50 which extends through one of the longitudinallyspaced openings 52in element 48 and intoa corresponding opening in the adjacent end of element 46. At its other end, element 46 includes a pair of longitudinally spaced sections 46a and 461; which are rigidly connected by bridging flanges 46c.

Arranged in opening 46d between the sections is a knurled adjusting nut 54 which is threadably mounted upon rod 44. Since nut 54 is prevented from longitudinal movement relative to element 46, rotation of the nut effects fine longitudinal adjustment between rod 44 and element 46. The other end of tubular element 48 extends into a corresponding bore in cylindrical element 56 and is removably secured thereto by locking pin 58. To prevent loss, pins 50 and 58 are chained to elements 48 and 56, respectively.

Welded transversely to the free end of threaded rod 44 is a sleeve 60 which slideably receives horizontal rod 62. Rod 62 extends at one end through a bore in a bracket 64 that is connected for vertical sliding movement upon vertical gauge arm 12. Lock screws 66 and 68 rigidly secure bracket 64 to arm 12 and rod 62, respectively. Threadably mounted in a bore in enlarged portion 62a of rod 62 is a stabilizing bolt 70'. Bolt 70 extends longitudinally of the spacer bar and is adjustable to engage an adjacent surface of door jamb 6. The free ends of the L-shaped tie rods 26 are locked to corresponding openings in rod 62 and bracket 64 by lock screws 72.

Welded to the other end of element 56 is a transverse sleeve member 76 provided with a first bore which slideably receives horizontal rod 78. Rod 78 is provided with a rigid right-angled extension 78a that is adapted to engage a vertical surface of door frame jamb 8. Sleeve member 76 is provided with a parallel second bore which slideably receives horizontal rod 80 (-FIG. 3). Stabilizing bolt 82, which is threadably mounted in a bore in enlarged portion 80a of rod 80, extends longitudinally of the spacer bar and is adjustable to engage an adjacent surface of jamb 8. The free ends of L-shaped tie wires 26' extend through openings 84 in rods 78 and 80 and are secured therein by lock screws 86. Rods 78 and 80 are secured in their respective bores in sleeve member 76 by lock screws 88.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the swivel bracket 30 comprises a rigid U-shaped element 100 to one wall 100a of which is welded a cylinder 102. Rot-atably mounted in bore 104, which extends longitudinally through the cylinder and through wall 100a, is a shaft 106 which is secured at one end to cylindrical disk 108. The other end of the shaft is secured by pin means 110, within an axial bore in cylinder member 112. Member 112 is bifurcated at its free end and is pivotally connected to the bifurcated portion of a second cylinder 114 by pivot pin 116. Brace rods 32 are pivotally connected to the free end of cylinder 114 by pivot pins 38 that is normal to both pivot pin 116 and the longitudinal axis of cylinder 114. It is apparent that legs 32, pivots 38 and 116, cylinders 114 and 112, shaft 106 and disk 10 8 may be rotated as a unit about the axis of bore 104. Lock screw 120, which is threadably mounted in wall 100a, cooperates with disk 108 to lock the unit in any desired angular position relative to element 100. When the unit is so locked, cylinder 114 is freely pivotable about the axis of pin 116, and legs 32 are freely pivotable about the axis of pin 38. Bolt 122, which is threadably mounted in opposed wall 100b, is adjustable to secure the swivel bracket means to a fixed support positioned between the parallel walls is shown in FIG. 1.

Alternate means for securing the swivel bracket to a fixed support are provided which include a V-shaped angle iron element 126 the extremities of which are welded to wall 100 h above an opening 128 provided in the base of member 100. Lock screw 130 is threadably mounted in wall 100]) and is adapted to extend between the legs of V-shaped member 126. Thus to secure the swivel bracket to a fixed support (for example, the ground or a floor surface as shown in FIG. lower base surface 100a is seated upon the support, a spike, bolt or other securing element 134 is inserted downwardly through member 126, through opening 128 and into the support, and screw 130 is rotated to clamp securing means 134 against V- shaped member 126.

4 Operation Assume that an interior masonry wall is to be constructed about door frame 2, and that a door is to be hinged subsequently to jamb 6.

Door frame 2 is arranged at the desired location and is supported by the foot portions of jambs 6 and 8. Horizontal gauge arm 14 is clamped to header 4 by C-clamps 22, and arm 12 extends downwardly adjacent-jamb 6. With lock screw released, swivel bracket 30 is clamped to ceiling beam 28 (at a location which is preferably contained in a vertical plane passing transversely through the center of the door frame), and the free ends of brace rods 32 are clamped to header extension 4a by C-clamps 36. Lock screw 1 20 is now tightened to secure disk 108, shaft 106 and member 112 against rotation relative to U- shaped member 100. -By appropriate telescopic and turnbuckle adjustment, the length of brace rods 32 are adjusted to plumb the door frame. With screws 66 and 68 released, bracket 64 is slid upwardly upon the lower end of gauge arm 12, rod 62 is adjusted until bolt 70 is opposite the jamb, and bolt 70 is adjusted to cause rod 62 to be parallel with the jamb. Tie rods 26 are mounted behind jamb '6 at a desired elevation (corresponding with the contemplated height of a course of the bricks or cinder block of the masonry wall to be constructed), bracket 64 is secured to arm 12 by screw 66, screw 68 is tightened, and the extremities of the tie wires are secured in the corresponding openings in the spacer bar device by screws 72.

With locking pin 50 removed, and with screws 88 released, the other end of spacer bar 24 is similarly secured to jamb 8. By appropriate adjustment of rods 78 and 80, rod extension 78a is caused to engage jamb 8, and bolt 82 is adjusted to also engage the jamb and maintain rods 78 and 80* parallel thereto. With the spacer bar device maintained horizontal, tie wire 26' are secured to jamb 8 by screws 86, and screws 88 are tightened to secure rods 78 and 80 in their respective bores in sleeve member 76. Elements 44, 46 and 48 are adjusted longitudinally until the opening in element 46 is opposite one of the coarse adjustment openings 52 in element 48, whereupon pin 50 is inserted to prevent relative longitudinal movement between elements 46 and 48. By appropriate fine adjustment of nut 54, jamb 6 is displaced relative to jamb 8 until member 20 of gauge 10 indicates jambs 6 to be exactly normal to header 4. Header 4 is maintained level by appropriate movement of jamb 8. If necessary, turnbuckles 34 may be adjusted for final plumbing of the door frame. The masonry interior wall 40 is now constructed around the door frame. When the level of the wall approaches the upper portion of the frame, screws 72 and 86 are loosened to release the tie wires, pin 50 is removed, screw 66 is loosened and spacer bar 24 is collapsed and removed. The tie wires are removed from the masonry or their protruding portions are cut off adjacent the surfaces of wall 40. Evidence of the use of the tie rods is covered with mortar. Clamps 22 and 36 are released to disconnect gauge 10 and brace rods 32, respectively, from the door frame, and the construction of the wall is completed.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be noted that because of the location of the spacer bar device adjacent the lower portion of the frame, and because of the mounting of the profile gauge adjacent an upper corner, the passage through the door frame is relatively unobstructed. This offers the advantage that workmen can pass freely through the braced frame while the wall 40 is under construction.

If it should be desired to check the orientation of jamb 8 relative to header 4, clamps 22 and screws 72 and 86 are released, pin 50 is removed, and the spacer bar and profile gauge are removed from the frame, rotated about a vertical axis, and are connected to the frame with the profile gauge in the upper right hand corner.

As a result of the use of the spacer bar and bracing means of the present invention, the time required for plumbing the frame and for aligning its components is greatly reduced. Because of the adjustability of rods 62, 78

and 80 and of stabilizing bolts 70 and 82, the spacer bar may be connected to jambs of varying widths and cross sectional configurations. The swivel bracket means permits connection of the upper portion of the frame to many types of ceiling or floor supports, and the triangulation afforded by the pivotally connected legs 32 rigidly stabilizes the frame in a plumb position during construction of the wall. The fine and coarse means for adjusting the lengths of the brace legs 32 permit ready connection to a fixed support at a point offset from the center of the door frame.

While in accordance with the provisions of the Patent Statutes the preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the apparatus described without deviating from the invention set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Support means comprising a bracket member adapted for connection with a fixed support, a first member rotatably connected at one end with said bracket member, a second member pivotally connected at one end to the other end of said first member, a third member pivotally connected with the other end of said second member for pivotal movement about a pivot axis normal to the pivotal connection between said first and second members, and releasable means for preventing rotation of said first member relative to said bracket member.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further including a fourth member pivotally connected to said second member about the same axis as said third member.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said third and fourth members are adjustable in length and further including clamping means pivotally connected with the free ends of said third and fourth members.

4. Support means for connecting a door frame including a header member to a fixed support during assembly comprising a swivel bracket and an adjustable length leg means for connecting the upper portion of the door frame to the fixed support, said swivel bracket and leg means comprising a U-shaped member adapted for connection to a fixed support, a first member rotatably connected at one end with said U-shaped member, a second member pivotally connected at one end to the other end of said first member, a pair of adjustable-length legs, pivot means connecting the legs at one end to the other end of said second member for pivotal movement about an :axis normal to the pivot axis between said first and second members, and releasable means for locking said first member against rotation relative to said second member.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said legs are hingedly connected at their other ends with opposite ends of the header member of said door frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 509,582 11/1893 Art 33-194 1,066,606 7/1913 Hansen 33-194 1,336,426 4/ 1920 Fredericksen 33194 2,617,618 11/ 1952 Blume 248-229 2,636,282 4/ 1953 Kronquist 33194 2,771,688 11/1956 Baker 33194 2,900,159 8/ 1959 Mattox 248229 2,973,584 3/1961 Snapp 33194 3,065,550 11/ 1962 Pattiani 33194 FOREIGN PATENTS 540,127 4/ 1957 Canada.

LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner.

W. D. MARTIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. SUPPORT MEANS COMPRISING A BRACKET MEMBER ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION WITH A FIXED SUPPORT, A FIRST MEMBER ROTATABLY CONNECTED AT ONE END WITH SAID BRACKET MEMBER, A SECOND MEMBER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE OTHER END OF SAID FIRST MEMBER, A THIRD MEMBER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED WITH THE OTHER END OF SAID SECOND 